Baby boomers

Cardio Training Strength Training

Health and fitness revisited

Some of the most accomplished individuals of the post-WWII era, the baby boomers, have achieved the highest professional and family standards. They were the creators of new technologies that have not only changed the way business is conducted today, but have produced wealth for an entire society and also for them. As baby boomers reach the  age of pre-retirement or retirement, baby boomers want more from life, they want to  live longer (spend the money they have accumulated),  to look good (I don’t want to look like my mom or dad), and to do whatever it takes to have the best appearance (cosmetics and skin treatments).

If appearance is critical to you, so must your investment in the future to be healthier, look younger, live longer, and to enjoy life after so many years of hard work and sacrifice. But life wasn’t easy, nor was it stress-free. Many baby boomers have been exposed over the years to high stress, poor diets and often not exactly the healthiest lifestyle, such as an organized and continuous physical activity. This is why I believe fitness professionals must comprehend the state of health and fitness of baby boomers, and most importantly, what to do about it. In fact, this is the exact intention of this website: to show you a better way to longevity, healthy lifestyle, energized daily living, and better overall health, family and intellectual/professional satisfaction.

Risk factors baby boomers are exposed to

The Surgeon General of the US has consistently unveiled the risk factors we are exposed to from adopting an unhealthy lifestyle. Furthermore, research studies in the area of longevity have also identified risk factors a baby boomer might experience such as, hypertension (high blood pressure), smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, diabetes, and high blood cholesterol. Not surprisingly, a higher health risk has been found among those who are not engaged in any physical activity.

There are also important links between hypertension and coronary heart diseases; obesity and diabetes; and between inactivity, obesity and hypertension. On the other hand, uncontrolled emotions, stressful social, psychological and even physical conditions can provoke or even aggravate hypertension, increase heart rate, shortness of breath, cardiac illnesses, and even suppress the immune system. Baby boomers must also beware of the stressors they might be exposed to for example; financial difficulties, family problems, and work problems such as being fired, lack of professional satisfaction, lack of respect for their work and professional contribution, overwork, etc. The earlier baby boomers are able to detect risk factors that contribute to their stress levels, the earlier you can start treatment to prevent, or even, reverse your health problems. Among the most beneficial elements of decreasing stress and anxiety is an organized and well-designed fitness program.

Overweight and obesity

Overweight is defined as a body weight in excess of standard weight based on height and frame size.

Obesity = excess amount of body fat:

• Men:>25% of body fat
• Women: > 35%

To easier asses how you fair as compared to the general population on the height-weight chart please compare your information to the chart bellow:

Table 1.2.  Height -Weight reference chart for adults
                  From : Merck manual of medical Info, Home Ed. 1997 (Merck manual is the standard medical reference manual for medical profession)

Weight for Men			Height		Weight for Women
Range	Ideal	Obese			Range	Ideal	Obese
				4’10”	92-121	106	127
				4’11”	95-124	109	130
				5’0”	98-127	112	134
105-134	119	142		5’1”	101-130	115	138
108-137	122	146		5’2”	104-134	119	143
111-141	126	151		5’3”	107-141	126	146
114-145	129	155		5’4”	110-142	126	151
117-149	133	159		5’5”	114-146	130	156
121-154	137	164		5’6”	118-150	134	164
125-159	142	170		5’7”	122-154	138	165
129-163	146	175		5’8”	126-159	142	170
133-167	150	180		5’9”	130-164	147	176
137-172	154	184		5’10”	134-169	151	181
141-177	159	191		5’11”
145-182	163	195		6’0”
149-187	168	201		6’1”
153-192	172	206		6’2”
157-197	177	212		6’3”

NOTE: just a personal note on Merck Manual data: it seems that the above data does not consider individual genetics and body built. As such please use the chart just only as a general guideline and not to strictly adhere to its data.
Causes of obesity:

• Hormonal imbalance, such as endocrine glands, fail to regulate body weight.
• Genetics and body type.
• Lifestyle, such as:
  -sedentary lifestyle.
  -Diet/nutrition. On average an adult person take 2,500 calories per day.
  -TV (couch potatoes).
  -Emotional trauma.
  -Eating habits: rich in fat and high carbs (carbs not used during your daily activities are converted into fat and deposited in your body, especially around your mid-section of the body and legs, particularly for women ).

The bad news
As often is the case, there is some bad news, but also some good news. Let’s briefly take a look at the bad news to remember that no matter how negative your state of health may be, I strongly believe that by being aware of the health risks of obesity you’ll motivate yourself to eliminate it or never allow yourself to become obese.

• 1/3^rd of the American population (slightly lower for Nordic Europeans, Australians and South Americans) are overweight and obese.
• 1/8^th out of every death is caused by illnesses directly related to overweight /obesity.
• Cardiovascular diseases cause 1/3rd of death.
• In 2002, 63% of US population was either overweight or obese.
• Total amount of obesity and illnesses/health care costs and loss in productivity directly related to overweight and obesity are over $120 billion per year.
• Obesity contributes to the # 1 cause of death that is heart disease.
• Obesity increases the number of people suffering from Type 2 diabetes. About 17 million American have diabetes and 16 million are considered having pre-diabetic condition.
• Each year, diabetes costs $135 billion since it can lead to many diseases such as cardiovascular, kidney failure, eye diseases and early death.
• As compared to people with a healthy weight, high blood pressure is twice as common among obese people.
• Overweight and obese people have a much higher risk of cancer than healthy weight individuals (colon, gall bladder, prostate, kidney and postmenstrual breast cancer).
• Obesity is associated with breathing problems, such as interrupted breathing during sleep, and asthma.
• Every 2 lbs gained in body weight, the risk of developing arthritis increases by over 10%. On the other hand, weight loss can improve the state of arthritis.
• Psychological disorders, such as depression and low self-esteem, are also associated to overweight and obesity.

The good news
The good news is that I can offer everyone looking to find a healthy lifestyle, is that obesity and high incidents of disease can be substantially prevented. Remember what Benjamin Franklin the great US ambassador and statesman, stated in late 1700’s? “One ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. However, over 200 years later, prevention is still a recognized but not applied as a metaphoric concept. Since you have purchased this website, you are ready and determined to change, to embark on a new and healthy lifestyle consisting of a healthy diet and physical activity, to live longer and healthier. Please remember that a healthy lifestyle results in a healthy life!

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